Video games effects on children: Boys more likely to suffer behaviour problems, research finds

BOYS spending two hours a day watching TV and playing video games are more likely to suffer behavioural and emotional problems, new research has found.

Brothers Luca, 7, and Coen, 9, love playing video games. Picture: Eugene Hyland

BOYS spending two hours a day watching TV and playing video games are more than 2½ times more likely to suffer behavioural and emotional problems, new research has found.

Spending 14 hours a week in front of the TV will also greatly increase a boy’s risk of hyperactivity and inattention issues, according to a new study by the Murdoch Childrens Research Centre.

But, while clear links were found between the amount of time spent using electronic media and behavioural issues for boys aged 8-9, lead researcher Dr Lisa Mundy said girls did not suffer the same negative effects.

Coen, 9, pictured with brother Luca, 7, has his video game time limited by his mum. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Dr Mundy said the study of 876 Melbourne children showed different types of electronic media had different effects on the developing male and female brain, requiring a rethink about attitudes to screen time.

“The duration of use does matter, and it is not just overall screen time but the type of medium you are using which seems to have an effect,” she said.

“For computer use we did not find any effect, so it is not that all screen time is bad, it’s more nuanced than that.”

Publishing their results in the journal Academic Pediatrics, the Murdoch team found that every additional hour of video game playing increased a boy’s chances of emotional problems such as anxiety and depression, as well as behavioural problems such as acting out.

Brothers Coen, 9, and Luca, 7, love playing video games. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Watching TV for an average of two hours a day made a boy 1.7 times more likely to have hyperactivity and attention problems.

It is believed the types of TV shows watched by boys and girls, as well as the fact girls typically played social sharing games with friends rather than those with violent content, may be responsible for the lack of impact on females, Dr Mundy said.

Through future waves of data in the Childhood to Adolescence Transition Study, the Murdoch researchers hope to discover whether the different types of screen time are increasing children’s susceptibility to problems, or whether social and parenting issues are driving children with pre-existing issues towards different types of media.

Coburg mum Sandy Vouch is all too aware of the impact screen time can have on her son, Coen, 9, and she now limits his weekday use to 45 minutes, and up to two hours on the weekend, to ease her concerns.

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